Tamper proof protector for coin control apparatus



S. J. RUDIN Dec. 20, 1966 TAMPER PROOF PROTECTOR FOR COIN CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 7, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. w J Hm ATTORMEVS SH/RLEY fiAN Fun/N S. J. RUDlN Dec. 20, 1966 TAMPER PROOF PROTECTOR FOR COIN CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 7, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mowm WM J Y1 M m AM S. J. RUDIN Dec. 20, 1966 TAMPER PROOF PROTECTOR FOR COIN CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 7, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 SH/RLEV JZAN Pu /N INVENTOR.

6M BYW i4 IFIQQOQSO Hm ATTOR/VEVS United States Patent Ofiice Patented Dec. 20, 1966 3,292,760 TAMPER PROOF PROTECTOR FOR COIN CONTROL APPARATUS Shirley Jean Rudin, 746 Woodhams Ave., Santa Clara, Calif. Filed May 7, 1965, Ser. No. 453,906 1 Claim. (Cl. 194-63) This invention relates to coin control apparatus and more particularly to a protector for rendering such apparatus tamper proof.

The device of the present invention is applicable to various forms of vending machines in which an article or a predetermined plurality thereof is dispensed upon each operation of the coin control when coupled with a coin. The problem is more serious in connection with coin changers such as are found in laundromats to provide a supply of dimes for the customers. Such changers consist of vertical tubes loaded with dimes, and associated with a shuflie plate for shifting the dimes to a point of discharge. The shufiie plate is disposed for operation by the coin control mechanism which is suited to receive a silver half dollar. Five stacks of dimes are held in five separate tubes all standing over the shuflie plate which is the thickness of one dime and has holes each the size of a dime in register with the stationary stacks of dimes. The shufiie plate rests on a flat base and is disposed to slide sidewise upon each operation of the coin control to shift the plate into a position where the holes in which the dimes are disposed discharge above a chute to dispense five dimes for each half dollar deposited in the coin control.

In such coin changers there is no profit made. They are merely placed in the laundromat for convenience of the people who wish to use the washers and dryers. Consequently it will be appreciated that any illegal operation of the coin control thereof to dispense coins results in a total loss to the proprietor just as though a thief has robbed the till. Such illegal operation of the coin control mechanism is possible by the insertion of a rod or tool up through the discharge chute and into the space where the coin control is coupled with the shuffle plate. When the thief pries them apart during an initial release of the coin control by a legitimate coin (50 cent piece) the friction exerted on the coupling between the shufiie plate and the coin control is such that the return springs on the latter cannot completely return the coin control mechanism to coin receiving position. However, shifting of the shuffle plate can still occur by oscillation of the handle of the coin control. Thus the thief can milk the coin changer dry of its supply of dimes in the matter of minutes.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a protector plate in the coin discharge chute and below place of coupling between the shuffle plate and coin control mechanism so that no tool can be inserted between them.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description in the light of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a coin controlled money changer with a tool inserted to effect illegal operation thereof.

FIG. 2 is a View similar to FIG. 1 showing the protector plate of the persent invention in place to prevent illegal operation of the device.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of FIG. 1 with parts cut away for purposes of illustration.

Referring to the drawings a coin controlled apparatus designated is shown to be confined within a cabinet 11 and to include a coin operated mechanism 12 having a handle 13 adapted to be released by a coin so as to operate a shuttle panel or plate 14 for releasing articles for discharge via a discharge chute 15.

The present disclosure shows the articles as a plurality of coins, for example dimes, arranged in five separate stacks 16 supported on the frame of the cabinet 11 above the shufiie plate 14. The shuttle plate 14 rests upon a solid plate 17 also mounted on the frame of the cabinet and has a plurality of apertures (not shown) formed therein, each of the size of a dime and each normally in register with one of the stacks 16. The shuffle plate 14 is the thickness of a dime so that only one dime is lodged in each aperture when in register with the stack.

The shufiie plate is mounted for sliding movement in a well known manner between the solid plate 17 and the stacks 16 of dimes. The solid plate 17 ends above the discharge chute 15 so that when the shufile plate 14 is moved, transverse to the cabinet 11, the dimes lodged in the apertures of the plate 14 will fall by gravity into the chute 15 upon each movement of the plate 14 relative to the stacks of dimes 16. The shuflie plate 14 is returned to normal position to receive more coins by suitable spring means (not shown).

The shuffle plate 14 is coupled to the coin operated mechanism 12. This mechanism 12 is mounted on a door 18 and in a space provided between the front panel 20 and a back panel 19 formed as a part of the door 18. The coin operated mechanism 12 includes a shaft 21 to which the handle 13 is secured exteriorly of the front panel 20 of the door 18. This shaft 18 extends through the coin control mechanism 12 and is journaled in suitable bearings provided on the front and back panels of the door 18.

A coin carrier 25 is secured to the shaft 21 between the front and back panels of the door 18 to receive a coin such as a valid 50 cent piece from a coin testing unit 26 also mounted within the door. The coin carrier 25 is mounted on the shaft 21 adjacent the back panel 19 and has a downwardly inclined coin groove 27 into which an accepted coin drops from the coin testing unit 26.

The coin carrier 25 is normally latched against effective oscillation, i.e. turning movement with the shaft 21, by action of a latch arm 28 pivotally mounted as at 29 on a bracket 30 secured to the main frame of cabinet 11 and so disposed as to extend into the space within the door 18 through an opening in the back panel 19 thereof. The latch arm 28 has a pin 31 on its free end disposed to ride the periphery of the coin carrier 25. A spring 32 between the latch arm 28 and the fixed bracket 30 urges the pin 31 toward the coin carrier 25. A notch 33 formed in the periphery of the coin carrier 25 in the region of the coin groove 27 thereof is so disposed as to receive the pin 31 of the latch arm 28 when no coin is lodged in the coin carrier. Thus the carrier 25, shaft 21 and handle 13 are latched against turning movement in one direction (clockwise FIG. 3) when no coin is lodged in the groove 27 of the coin carrier. However, when a coin is lodged in the groove 27 of the coin carrier the periphery of such coin acts as a cam to engage the pin 31 to thus urge the latter and latch arm 28 away from the periphery of the coin carrier and thereby releasing the latter for a full stroke or oscillation of say from a quarter to one half a revolution.

The after or inner end 35 of the shaft 21 extends beyond the inside panel 19 of the door 18 and has a crank arm 36 secured thereto for oscillation with the shaft 21. The crank arm 36 has a roller 37 pivotally mounted on its free end and disposed in a yoke 38 formed on one edge 39 of the shuffle plate 14. The arrangement is such that when the door 18 is opened or removed from the front of the cabinet to service the mechanism, the roller 37 moves out of embracement of the arms of the yoke 38. However when the door 18 is shut and in place on the cabinet, oscillation of the shaft 21 with a coin in the coin carrier will shift the shuffle plate 14 to the left FIG. 1 to cause the dimes carried by the plate 14 to be dispensed in a legal manner. When the handle 13 is released, the spring means connected to the shufile plate 14 returns the latter to normal position (with its apertures in register with the stacks 16). The yoke 38 of the shufile plate thus acts upon the roller 3-7 on crank arm 36 to return the latter and shaft 21 to normal position in which the coin carrier 25 is again set to be latched or to have another valid coin drop into the coin groove before it can be oscillated.

In order to illustrate the purpose of the present invention I have depicted in FIG. 1 a manner in which the coin controlled apparatus explained above has been tampered with by thieves to operate the shufile plate continuously after the deposit of #but a single valid coin. In FIG. 1 a tool such as a jimmy, crow bar or a large screw driver X bent in a particular manner is shown to be inserted up through the discharge chute 15. The tip of the tool X is disposed behind the back panel 19 of the door 18 and at mid point of its shank S and tool X rests on the lower edge e of the chute which serves as a fulcrum. Now when the handle H of the tool is pressed down, the back panel 19 of the door unit 18 can be sprung or pried outwardly. As this is done the coin carrier 25 becomes tilted relative to vertical. The carrier 25 'bears against the latch arm 28 to tilt the latter in an opposite direction relative to vertical. In this manner the latch arm is so bound against the periphery of the carrier 25 as to resist the action of the spring 32. Consequently, the pin 31 on the end of latch arm 28 will stay displaced outwardly of the periphery of the coin carrier 25 and no longer act as a stop engageable in the notch 33 of the coin carrier. The coin carrier 25 is thus released for free oscillation by turning of the handle and shaft 21 even though no coin is at rest in the coin groove 27 of the carrier 25. However, the roller 27 of the crank arm 36 on the inner end of the shaft 21 is still embraced within the arms of the yoke 38 of the shuffle plate 14. Consequently, by continuous oscillation of the handle and shaft 21 the stacks 16 can be quickly emptied of their supply of coins (dimes) and the machine thereby milked dry.

The present invention comprises the provision of a protector plate 40 in the coin discharge chute below the coupling between the yoke 38 and the roller 37 of the coin control mechanism 12. This protector Plate 40 consists of a channel member 41 having a web portion 42 of a width to fit between the back panel 19 of the door 18 and the fore edge 43 of the step 44 cut in the side walls of the discharge chute 15. The channel member has a back flange 45 which stands vertically adjacent the fore edge 43 of the chute 15 and a front flange 46 disposed forwardly of the back panel 19 of the door 18. The channel member 41 extends lengthwise across the entire apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 3 and is secured to the back panel 19 by several sets of nuts and bolts 47; The channel member 41 is thus secured to the door 18 for movement therewith and to assure that when the door is closed that the member 41 is properly positioned such as to prevent the insertion of a tool or jimmy behind the door 18 to facilitate prying of the latter outwardly of the frame.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that I have provided a tamper proof protector for coin control apparatus to prevent operation thereof other than when a valid coin is properly deposited in the coin carrier as intended.

While I have described my tamper proof protector for coin control apparatus in specific detail it will be appreciated that the same may be modified, altered or varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore desire to avail myself of all modifications, alterations and/or variations as may fairly come within the faces of the chute and which has a discharge opening on i the forward side of the cabinet, the crank arm being exposed through the discharge opening and open upper region of the discharge chute and being coupled to a shuffle panel disposed above the rear portion of the discharge chute for reciprocatingly shifting such shuffle panel into dispensing position above said discharge chute in response to the rotation of said shaft, a coin carrier in the forward portion of the cabinet fixedly attached to said shaft for rotation therewith and having a coin-receiving slot in the periphery thereof, and a latch on the forward side of such coin carrier near the periphery thereof for normally restraining the coin carrier against rotational movement, said latch being disposed to move in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the coin carrier between two positions, a normally latching position which prevents shaft rotation in the absence of a coin in said slot in the coin carrier and a non-latching position in the presence of a coin in said slot in the coin carrier which releases said coin carrier and shaft and crank arm for, rotation sufficient .to shift the shuflle panel into dispensing position above the rear portion of the discharge chute; a tamper protection member secured Within said cabinet in a position intermediate the crank arm coupled to said shufile panel and the open upper region of said forward portion of the discharge chute to obstruct admittance of objects inserted through the discharge opening and open upper region of the discharge chute toward the crank ar-m coupled to the shuflle panel, thereby preventing the forward prying of the shaft and coin carrier fixedly attached thereto to a position of engagement of the periphery of the coin carrier with said latch which binds the same in said non-latching position relative to said carrier during rotation of said shaft and coin carrier following removal of the coin therefrom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,734,739 11/1929 Morin 194-63 1,790,725 2/ 1931 'Scherrnack 19463 X 1,960,065 5/ 1934 Richardson et al l94-63 3,010,557 1l/196l Weitzman 19463 FOREIGN PATENTS 237,975 11/ 1959 Australia.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Examiner, 

